OfferBackedBuyer Tools
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Where are towns like the one I love?

Enter a town you like, or the one you’re leaving, and find the places most like it: similar incomes, home prices, commute, age of homes and more. Look nearby, in other states or only where homes cost less.

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Towns most like Arlington, MA 02474

Arlington: median income $150,560, home value $933,200, $598/sq ft, 32-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Newton, MA 02458 91%5$153,520$1,136,100$544 pricier homes ($203K more) · smaller
Dobbs Ferry, NY 10522 88%170$165,417$765,500$537 cheaper homes ($168K less) · smaller
Arlington, MA 02476 87%1$151,131$934,800$609 smaller · older residents
Belmont, MA 02478 86%2$183,137$1,159,000$601 higher income ($33K more) · pricier homes ($226K more)
Albany, CA 94706 85%2,678$143,398$1,203,500$836 pricier homes ($270K more) · more single-family homes
Montclair, NJ 07042 84%193$122,847$821,700$590 lower income ($28K less) · cheaper homes ($112K less) · more renters
Washington, DC 20016 83%393$178,920$1,216,000$565 higher income ($28K more) · pricier homes ($283K more) · 6 min shorter commute
Mamaroneck, NY 10543 82%167$126,417$729,600$560 cheaper homes ($204K less)
Alexandria, VA 22301 82%397$194,819$1,027,900$616 higher income ($44K more) · pricier homes ($95K more) · smaller
Medford, MA 02155 80%2$129,700$755,500$496 cheaper homes ($178K less) · larger
Harrison, NY 10528 80%166$154,416$937,500$598 smaller · newer homes
Newtonville, MA 02460 79%5$177,837$1,224,600$588 higher income ($27K more) · pricier homes ($291K more) · smaller
Atlanta, GA 30306 79%931$123,077$799,800$389 lower income ($27K less) · cheaper homes ($133K less) · 7 min shorter commute
Brookline, MA 02445 78%7$139,747$1,227,000$776 pricier homes ($294K more) · younger residents
Watertown, MA 02472 78%4$126,336$784,600$507 cheaper homes ($149K less) · more renters · more apartments and townhomes
Falls Church, VA 22046 78%399$168,882$1,014,700$476 pricier homes ($82K more) · smaller · newer homes
West Roxbury, MA 02132 77%10$138,724$746,100$505 cheaper homes ($187K less) · more single-family homes
Melrose, MA 02176 77%5$133,953$822,900$494 cheaper homes ($110K less) · more single-family homes
Bryn Mawr, PA 19010 77%273$144,471$803,100$388 cheaper homes ($130K less) · more single-family homes · newer homes
Washington, DC 20007 77%393$140,996$1,292,400$727 pricier homes ($359K more) · 7 min shorter commute · more apartments and townhomes
Washington, DC 20012 77%389$121,418$863,900$421 lower income ($29K less) · cheaper homes ($69K less) · smaller
Jamaica Plain, MA 02130 76%8$131,551$822,300$642 cheaper homes ($111K less) · more renters · more apartments and townhomes
Auburndale, MA 02466 76%7$170,089$1,174,000$561 pricier homes ($241K more) · smaller · 9 min shorter commute
Oakland, CA 94610 76%2,677$134,507$1,379,700$642 pricier homes ($447K more) · more renters
Alexandria, VA 22307 75%399$141,667$778,900$425 cheaper homes ($154K less) · smaller · more homeowners

Similarity compares income, home value, price per sq ft, population, age, commute, education, walkability, owner share, single-family share and age of homes. Click a town to see its housing market. Set your own criteria with the town finder.

Finding towns like the one you love

Maybe you grew up somewhere you loved and want something like it closer to a new job. Maybe the town you want is out of reach and you’re looking for a cheaper version of it. Or you’re moving across the country and want to know which places will feel familiar. This tool starts from a town you know and finds the places most like it.

How we measure similarity

We compare eleven things for every ZIP code: median household income, median home value, price per square foot from recent sales, population, median age, average commute, the share of adults with a bachelor’s degree, walkability, the share of homes that are owner-occupied, the share that are single-family homes, and the median year homes were built. Income and home values count most, because they shape what a place costs and feels like day to day.

Each trait is put on the same scale, so a $50,000 difference in home value and a five-minute difference in commute can be compared fairly. The result is a similarity score: towns in the 90s are close matches on nearly everything, and scores in the 70s are similar with a few clear differences. For each match we list the biggest differences, like cheaper homes, a longer commute or more single-family homes.

Where to look

  • Anywhere shows the closest matches nationwide.
  • Same state or other states keeps the search where you need it.
  • Within a distance finds alternatives near a town you’re priced out of.
  • At least a distance away finds the same kind of place somewhere new.

Tick “only towns where homes cost less” to find more affordable versions of the place you like.

What it can’t tell you

Numbers can’t capture everything that makes a place feel like home: a walkable downtown, the schools, the views or the people. Use the matches as a short list, then visit. Click any town to see its housing market, including how competitive it is and how fast homes are selling.

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